Kr. Wilkinson
CONFIDENTIAL
9/2601
Problem
Mr. Anthony Grey and the New China News
No progress has been made in securing access to Mr. Grey,
nor have the Chinese responded to an informal suggestion made
by Sir Donald Hopson that Mr. Grey might be exchanged for
N.C.N.A. personnel in prison in Hong Kong. There has been
some recent press publicity in this country about the case
and we must expect further Parliamentary questions and possibly
an adjournment debate. We have to decide what further pressure,
if any, can be put on the Chinese to release Mr. Grey and how
the case should be handled in public.
Recommendation
2.
I recommend that we should consult Sir D. Hopson further
on the lines of the attached draft telegrams in which the
Commonwealth Office concur.
Argument and Background
The
3. Sir D. Hopson has had a number of exchanges with the
Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs about visita to Mr. Grey.
He has pointed out that the N.C.N.A. personuel in prison in
Hong Kong are allowed regular visits by their relatives.
Chinese have countered by saying that they should be allowed
special visits by their N.C.N.A. colleagues and others who
would wish to bring them extra food and clothing. The Governor
/of
CONFIDENTIAL